AP veteran David Scott named political editor

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Scott, who leads news coverage in 14 states for The Associated Press as a regional editor, was named Tuesday as political editor to direct the news agency's national political reporting.

Scott, 37, who currently works in Chicago overseeing the AP's Central Region, will be based in Washington and report to Washington Bureau Chief Sally Buzbee.

"The political editor job is a critical one for AP — directing our national political coverage, advising states on political reporting and working with colleagues on our race-calling, accountability, vote count and polling operations," Buzbee said. "It requires superb news skills, keen interest in both politics and policy, and strong competitive instincts. We are thrilled David is taking it on."

Since 2009, Scott has overseen the Central Region, which stretches from North Dakota to Michigan and south to Texas, directing day-to-day and enterprise news coverage in text, photos and video, as well as a cross-format publishing desk. In that time, the region won two APME Deadline Reporting Awards and an honorable mention for the 2009 Fort Hood, Texas, massacre, the 2011 Joplin, Mo., tornado, and the 2012 Wisconsin Sikh Temple shooting.

From 2005 to 2009 he was AP's news editor in North Carolina, where he led coverage of the Duke University lacrosse rape case and the political career of former Sen. John Edwards. He also set up and directed the AP's Blacksburg, Va., newsroom after the Virginia Tech shootings, and served as an on-site editor during several hurricanes, including Katrina, Ike and Gustav.

He joined the AP as a reporter in St. Louis in 1999, where he covered the downfall of Trans World Airlines, the rise of Monsanto, political campaigns and the Women's Final Four and Major League Baseball playoffs.

Scott is a native of Philadelphia who grew up in Milwaukee and attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism.